Challenge Corner discussion

The stakes are even higher in this epic, romantic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Crimson Moth duology.

A WITCH...
Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...
Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...
When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

so happy I was able to start this one shortly after reading the first book
50% (view spoiler)[ ugh I love the dynamic between Gideon and Rune.. the constant back and forth but no necessarily annoying, it's the perfect tug and pull (in my opinion).

hopefully gideon will start to realize how the new republic isn't all as it seems to be... I'm sure Rune is the missing connection?? maybe, it would make sense since she doesn't know her parents (hide spoiler)]

79% (view spoiler)[ I'd like to say I was surprised at rune being the long lost sister. THANK GOODNESS Gideon and Rune are finally together. I've been waiting all book for that... also Soren... screw him, if only he was alive so Gideon can have his way (hide spoiler)]

93% (view spoiler)[ the constant back & forth!! the predictability in the book is throwing me off a bit but I'm still enjoying it even though I know what's likely going to happen. the big question is who is going to die before the book ends? or is someone going to lose their limbs? (hide spoiler)]

finished !! (view spoiler)[ honesty I loved the first book a bit more. this one didn't have as much twists or suspense as the first one. I don't know there was just too much predictability in my opinion, but it wasn't necessarily annoying. I continued to like the relationship between Gideon and Rune even if it took AGES for them to end up together (hide spoiler)] I'll have to check out the other books by this author

Chapters 1 - 20

(view spoiler)[ I was going to DNF when Rune left Gideon alone with Cressida, and the scenes with Soren weren’t helping, but things worked out.

I don’t like that all the magic lessons with Seraphina were skipped.

The “enemies” part isn’t working for me because it’s superficial, especially considering their attraction to each other. I think maybe the book would have been better for me if they talked and tried to work on a plan together that benefited them both (a compromise with the witch situation).

It feels like there’s a lot of half truths and uncompleted sentences between them which is slightly annoying, although I guess it makes sense in their situation.

Is Rune the Roseblood?
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 21 - 40

(view spoiler)[ This is fine, but I wish they talked through different options instead of Gideon being stuck on his solution being the only one.

Gideon’s decision to stay behind so Rune can take Meadow might have made sense but it made his plan with the witch hunters so obvious.

I’m sure that by the end of the book the law won’t say that witches need to be killed, but I don’t think it’s going to show the society and people actually acting like it, which I don’t like.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 41 - 60

(view spoiler)[ Of course Harrow and Juniper’s story is a misunderstanding.

There isn’t really any planning or it doesn’t seem smart. For example, Rune is trying to hide her plan from Gideon so he doesn’t follow her, but she makes it obvious that she’s going to use Alex’s boat and then is completely certain that Gideon won’t be able to follow her because he won’t know what she’s doing.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 61 - Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ The attempts at creating complexity (characters’ personalities and motives, and the plot) didn’t work for me. This was very fast paced with little detail.

I didn’t really see how Gideon and Rune (mostly Gideon) changed their minds about each other, or how both the soldiers and witches were suddenly said to not actually be loyal to their leaders.

The ending was really easy and once again, it was convenient because there was no planning shown.
(hide spoiler)]

Starting this one early in May

Elizabeth wrote: "Starting this one early in May"

Yes, I got behind in my buddy reading and plan to start in May too!

and wow! the last 2 readers - one was a 4 star and the other a 1 star! I can't wait to click those spoilers!

Just started Heartless Hunter. Also waiting on my copy from the library

This is on my list...

It's okay. I'm still finishing book one

keeping alive...

Thanks. I'm hoping to get to it next weekend

keeping alive...

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RESTARTING AUGUST 15TH, 2025


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I'm going to try and jump in on this one. I've been wanting to read it for a while!